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Monthly Archives: May 2014

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I was thinking of going to Woooton this morning, but made a last minute change and went to Governor Bridge.
It was cool this morning, with good light, and a few birds cooperated.
I started bug hunting early, and found some nice stuff right away, including a spectacular spider and a nice Black Racer.

It seems to me I’m seeing fewer Eastern Phoebes than last year.

It took a while to locate this Eastern Towhee even though he was singing loudly.

I saw several Red Eyed Vireos foraging in pairs.

Blue Grosbeaks breed at Governor Bridge.

This Common Yellowthroat was also serenading.

Today’s bugs.

This Black Racer is probably the same one I’ve seen twice before.

This is the largest Wolf Spider I’ve seen in MD.Wikipedia:”Wolf spiders resemble Nursery web spiders (family Pisauridae), but wolf spiders carry their egg sacs by attaching them to their spinnerets (Pisauridae carry their egg sacs with their chelicerae and pedipalps). Two of the Wolf spider’s eight eyes are large and prominent, which distinguishes them from the Nursery web spiders whose eyes are all of approximately equal size. This can also help distinguish them from grass spiders.”

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The good weather ended abruptly yesterday, and today wasn’t much better. Gray and cloudy isn’t a recipe for good birding and so it went. Only a few birds were about, and it was hard to get a pose from them.
The cool weather slowed the bugs down and allowed me some good images.

This White Eyed Vireo was looking for breakfast.

Today’s bugs.

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It was partly cloudy and cool this morning, and I didn’t have plan, so I headed to Governor Bridge to try to do as well as last time. The birds weren’t as cooperative, but there were plenty of bugs to look at.

This turtle might have been looking for a place to lay eggs.

There are many Indigo Buntings at Governor Bridge.

I’m not sure how this Northern Cardinal got so wet.

Wikipedia:”Their breeding habitat is wooded swamps, shallow lakes, marshes or ponds, and creeks in eastern North America, the west coast of the United States and western Mexico. They usually nest in cavities in trees close to water, although they will take advantage of nesting boxes in wetland locations if available. Females line their nests with feathers and other soft materials, and the elevation provides some protection from predators.[5] Unlike most other ducks, the wood duck has sharp claws for perching in trees and can, in southern regions, produce two broods in a single season—the only North American duck that can do so.”

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The perfect weather continued today. I had thought thought stay closer to home today, but I felt inspired by the weather, so I set out for Bowie.
I was very pleasantly surprised to find the Tanager right away, and few others posed as well.
Bug hunting was productive also.

Red Eyed Vireos are heard throughout the parks.

This Common Yellowthroat looks a bit bedraggled.

Blue Grosbeaks should be easier to find from now on.

I don’t often find Wood Ducks in the water at Governor Bridge.

I found small flock of Cedar Waxwings.

This Scarlet Tanager came back to the same tree several times. The yellow one is a female.

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It was another perfect morning, so I decided to head back to Schoolhouse Pond to try and see something different. It was not to be. Some good birds have been seen there, but nothing special today.
I stopped at Governor Bridge on the way home and found a few bugs.

Several Great Blue Herons were fishing in the lake.

This Mallard hen was protecting her duckling.

I usually see Chipping Sparrows on the ground.

Tree Swallows were actively hunting all over the lake.

Two flocks of Cedar Waxwings were fly hunting near the lake.

This fisherman caught a nice Largemouth Bass.

Today’s bugs.

This Beaver was enjoying an early morning swim.

I was surprised to this large Northern Black Racer in this bush.

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Another perfect Spring day and I was at Wooton by 6:30. I had the whole place to myself for most of the morning.
I found a few birds on the lower trail, then spent some time with the bugs on the upper trail.
In the afternoon I went to Quiet Waters and found a few more bugs.

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I had planned a trip to LAke Artemesia this morning, but it began raining shortly after I left.
I pulled into Governor Bridge to wait out the rain, which took about 45 minutes.
The birds were active, and I found a few good ones.
The bug hunt was slow.

Chipping Sparrows can be found in the big field.

Prothonotary Warblers are nesting at several places.

I haven’t gotten a good look at a Cedar Waxwing in a while.

Red Eyed Vireos are one of the most common birds in our area.

I heard this Yellow Billed Cuckoo before I saw him.

I saw this snake in exactly the same place yesterday.

This Turtle was in no hurry.

Today’s bugs.

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Another chilly morning. I had planned to go to Greenbury Point, but the USNA graduation week crowd made me change my mind.
There was a fair amount of early activity, but it was overcast and the birds were high in the foliage. I did manage a few decent shots anyway.
The bug hunt was slow until the Sun came out in mid-morning.